CAPE SCHOOLS MIGHT NEED TAX INCREASE; MUST TELL WHY

Mary Kiser says Cape Girardeau voters probably need to increase taxes for public schools -- a little, but higher taxes should be the last step in improving funding for the school district.

"Nobody likes to get into their purse," Kiser said.

She was among a handful of people at a Vision Planning Meeting Saturday at Jefferson Elementary School to talk about school finances. Another public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Cape Girardeau Vocational-Technical School, and a third meeting on finances is set for 9 a.m. Saturday at the Clippard Elementary School.

Raising school taxes was a priority at the meeting, but the need for a tax increase was prefaced by the need for the school district to look at what it is doing and to explain what its plans are.

Money is very personal to many people, Donna Jenkins told the group, adding: "It's my children, my husband and my money. People don't like to part with their money. You better have a very good reason to ask."

She said education is a good reason, but the district has to explain what is going to be done and how the money is going to be spent.

Suggestions included making more efficient use of the money the school already receives and explaining to taxpayers where the money comes from, where it goes and who decides how the money is spent.

School officials should also give parents and other taxpayers a chance to set the direction for how money is spent.

In addition to actual dollars coming in to the school district, participants suggested looking for support in other areas.

For example, parents and senior citizens can be tapped to provide non-teaching duties. The payoff would be twofold: schools would receive needed help and taxpayers would have a chance to see firsthand what needs schools have.

In addition, school buildings could be opened up for community use.

"We don't want schools separated from those who really care about it," said Pat Zellmer, who was a leader of one group.

The search for ideas continues. Next week's meetings are scheduled for school district support staff, teachers and administrators. The following week students and senior citizens will be asked for their ideas, and schools are the topic for Friday's First Friday Coffee.

Ideas generated through these meetings will be compiled and tabulated and then reported at a town hall meeting Nov. 7.

Eventually, the Vision Planning Committee will make a report to the Cape Girardeau Board of Education, which will use the committee's suggestions to develop a five-year strategic plan for the school district.